Christmas Helps For a Busy Season

I don't believe I've said before, but the church we belong to is The Salvation Army.  Mr. Man grew up in it, and my family joined officially when I was 15.  It is the church that Mr. Man and I were pastors in, and are now working on rejoining as pastors.  

If you know anything about The Salvation Army, you know that they do a LOT of social service ministries, especially around the holidays.  With all the planning and work that goes into ministries like bell ringing and angel trees, Christmas really gets going by the beginning of October for many Salvation Army officers.  The most important thing to me during this time is that my children not grow up feeling that the season was "ruined" for them by how busy their parents were and the lack of time spent together.  I know many families see an increase in activities during this time of year, however, whether they are in "the ministry" or not.  I'd like to share some tools that may help cut down on some of the craziness, and even help keep the focus where it should be - Jesus!

Photo Credit:  stock.xchng

• A tool I just discovered last year was The 12-Week Holiday Planner by Sheri Graham and Marilyn Moll.  It starts October 1st (whoops!), and has all kinds of goodies in it like check lists (shopping, cards, gifts, etc), menus, recipes, schedules, gifts to make, and more!  I'm excited to try it out this year!  You can also sign up to be notified of updates to the planner if you choose to buy it!
• On a tight budget?  There are free ones available, too.  The FlyLady has a holiday control journal, which starts before Thanksgiving, that you can print out and pop in a binder.  Organized Home has tips on how to create your own Christmas planner, as well as forms you can print out.
• I haven't tried it, but the Springpad app sounds like a useful thing.  I'm a list-maker (I'm making one right now!), and this seems like just the thing for me - if I had a phone that used apps...  I often have pieces of paper floating around with lists of things I wanted to remember or look into later.  I'm definitely trying Springpad out!
• Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam has a list of quite a few Christmas traditions to try with your family.  I really want to do some of them with mine.  I'd love to try out something she mentions in the "Candy Cane Trail" post - only opening a few presents per hour.  I'd love to slow down the whole morning, and make the kids really focus on what they just opened, rather than flinging off the paper and then moving on to the next present.  It just sounds so peaceful!  And, lastly...
• Do you read A Holy Experience?  If not, YOU SHOULD!  Ann Voskamp has a way of connecting EVERY. LITTLE. THING. to living a more full relationship with God.  One post was about the power going out in their pig barn and her sons working together to keep the pigs from overheating.  Somehow, she found a spiritual application in it!  And, it touched me!  Anyhow, if you sign up for email updates from her blog, there is a link at the bottom of each one for her Jesse Tree Journey, which she wrote with Nancy Rodden.  If I do nothing else this Christmas season, I want to make sure I do this advent series with my family.  We need it.

I hope you've found something in that list to help you out this Christmas season - whether it is a way to stay better organized or an activity to help recenter your family on the true meaning of the season!


**Note:  The link to The 12-Week Holiday Planner is my affiliate link.

Sewing For Adults - and Fun!

Ok, so I did a list for babies, and I did a list for kids. Now I feel like I need a list for the rest of us!

• I put these headbands at Brown Paper Packages on the kids' list, but I also want to make some for me. I think they'd be great for housework and bad hair days!
• Amy Butler has quite a few free patterns on her website. They include several quilts (if you're into quilting...I haven't attempted that yet), a couple of scarves, a yoga bag, a portfolio, and a cloth necklace.
• There are a bunch of projects to choose from at You Can Make This. Pot holders, oven mitts, table runners, pillows, window coverings, holiday decor, a scarf, and even a mystery quilt!
• Homestead Revival has tutorials for a bread bag, a dinner napkin, and a reversible napkin.
• I originally bookmarked the "Poppy Top in 10" tutorial at Hungry Hippie, but I've just noticed that she has quite a few other tutorials. I really like the mug rugs! I may make mine a little smaller, though.
• I found a large (13"x12"x10") tote bag on All People Quilt. There seem to be a bunch more ideas for the home or gifts, too.
• Have a tunic-style shirt (or just a long t-shirt) that you'd like to add a pocket to? Made By Rae shows you how. Just scroll down the left side of her blog - I believe it's the last tutorial. She also has a couple of quilt tutorials and a purse that you might be interested in, too.
• Love pin cushions? You'll love the list of pin cushion tutorials at Craft Passion. Be sure to also click on the "Free Pattern," "Tutorial", and "Freebies" categories at the top of the page!
• Again, if you like to quilt, Pink Penguin has tutorials down the right side for things such as a wristlet, a lunch bag, placemats, and a tissue box cover. I'm sure you could also use the instructions with solid fabrics, too (rather than piecing them).
• I think the "Sailing on the Lake" blouse at Sewing Princess looks so comfy - and easy! There are also instructions for a couple of other tops and things called a "tailor's ham" and a "seam roll" - apparently these are used in ironing? I'm not sure I know what "ironing" is...
• Need maternity pants? There's a great tutorial at Grosgrain. I'd like to try these, but would probably make the knit panel rise higher.
• Prefer a maternity skirt? How about the one at Pink Picket Fence?
• The Prudent Homemaker has a lovely list of tutorials and free patterns that she's found online.
• Ok, the gal at Make It And Love It just has a great list of tutorials - some of them are for sewing from scratch, and some of them are for repurposing articles of clothing.
• Want reusable grocery bags without the cost? Want ones that are sturdier than those weird it's-not-quite-cloth ones that are often free or $1? Sew 4 Home has instructions to make your own.
• Check out mmmcrafts - there is a cute ruffled pillow sham, a messenger bag, and tutorials on how to repurpose trouser-style jeans into shorts, boot-cut jeans into skinny-leg jeans, and how to tailor the fit of a t-shirt.
• Are you a fan of glass or ceramic bowls? I am, and often find them second-hand, where they are either missing their lids, or "vintage" enough that they never had lids. I am definitely making myself some of the pot-luck bowl covers at The Cottage Home! I'm planning to try it out with PUL fabric, in hopes that it will keep food fresher in the fridge than just cotton. I'm in love with her other projects, too!
• If you are interested in trying your hand at making your own ... ahem ... unmentionables, there is a pattern you can download along with instructions at The L-T Experience (the elastic she uses is fold-over elastic - she doesn't give the name for it). There is also an option for boy-cut briefs.
• Want to make your own custom bias tape? I'd love to try this technique at Stop Staring and Start Sewing!
• Sarah at Welcome to the gOOd life is just too darn cute, and so very talented! She has all kinds of DIY posts on how to make store-bought clothes more modest, and how to knock off more expensive clothes (like Anthropology) for less.
• There are also Anthropology DIYs at Adventures In Dressmaking - you just have to wade through her other DIY posts about her wedding, though some of the things she's doing for it are really cute and creative!
  
• And, last up, there is a tutorial for a pieced shower curtain at Sweeter Than Cupcakes.

I know there are thousands more tutorials out there, and I'm sure some other time I'll do another post. But for now, this clears out my "sewing" category in my bookmarks. Plus, I've been working on this post for a few days, it's getting late, and I'm ready to be done. Kinda like pregnancy, but the labor was a cinch, in comparison!

Sewing For Kids - A List of FREE Tutorials

Last week I shared some tutorials and patterns for things to sew for babies. I've still got sewing on the brain, so I thought I'd do up a list for kids, from toddlers to tweens. Some are practical things, some are things you can help your child make for themselves or a friend. Some are just plain fun!

• I think Super Girl and I need some of the headbands at Brown Paper Packages. I know I have all the stuff for them, and they would make an easy afternoon project for us! She also has a cute Memory game you can make, as well as LOTS of tutorials for little girls dresses.
  
• At Infinite Freedom, you can find a free pattern for an American Girl doll dress, as well as a doll quilt designed for a girl to make herself.
• Ellie Inspired has shared an apron, a couple of dresses, a beret and sailor collar, and a necktie for little boys. I think her Sweet Apple Frock is adorable!
• Find instructions for a capelet, pettiskirts for girls and dolls, another headband, an American Girl doll skirt, and a child's chef's hat at You Can Make This.
• If you look down the left-hand side of Fishsticks Designs, you will see tutorials for a tank top, several bags of different shapes and sizes, a fabric garland, and a pillow case, as well as hints on sewing with knits (something I need to look into!).
• Made By Rae has a fleece hat tutorial, and she also just posted a cute wristlet pattern.
• Make a dress for your little gal out of a men's dress shirt with the instructions at Made. She also has tutorials for several skirts, pants, shorts, and shirts. I think her 90 minute shirt just kept me from buying a pattern!
• Does someone in your house believe in the Tooth Fairy? How about this adorable Tooth Fairy pillow? Mmmcrafts also has a cute monkey doll pattern that is free.
• You can find all kinds of little bags and pouches at Noodlehead, including a boys wallet and a gun sleeve (Wonder Boy would LOVE the gun sleeve!). There is also a bike bucket and cloth sandwich bags to be made!
• Do your kids love to make forts out of the dining table? Then you need the tutorial at Obsessively Stitching! After that, browse through her whole list of other tutorials, including fleece stuffed animals, dresses, a toddler robe out of dish towels!, storage cubes, several other tents of varying shapes and sizes, and a shopping cart seat belt - I need one of these!
• Maybe you know a little girl that just "needs" a petty skirt? There is a tutorial at Make It and Love It! Then check out the rest of her tutorials - under "Making & Altering Clothing", there are several projects for kids such as skirts, t-shirt dresses, flag shirts for the 4th of July, making jeans into shorts, and embellishing t-shirts for both boys and girls. Be sure to also check out her "Re-Purposing" category, to see ideas of how to re-use clothing that might be stained or torn, but still has a lot of life in the fabric. And, even though the category is called "Baby/Toddler", there are quite a few things for kids older than that, like I Spy bags, belts, art smocks, and doll diapers.
• One thing I've been wanting to make for Little Miss is some felt play food. There are instructions for a few different items at One Inch World - farfalle noodles, lettuce, tomato slices, lollipops, and ravioli - just look down the right side of the page. There are also a few other things of interest - little felt doll chairs, candy corn hair clips, and fillable soft eggs (I would love to have had some at Easter!).
• Pink Penguin has several tutorials down the right side of her blog: a wristlet, a lunch bag, placemats, a pencil case, and fabric bins. She likes to quilt and use patchwork - if that's not your thing, I don't see why you couldn't just use solid pieces of cloth of equivalent sizes.
• I like the t-shirt ruffle scarf and ruffle necklace waffle shirt at Ruffles And Stuff. There's even something to make for boys on such a girly site - a hat and scarf from a sweater.

I hope you've enjoyed this list, and found something you just have to make! I know my sewing wish list just got longer! If you have a favorite tutorial that you don't see on this list, feel free to leave it in a comment!

Sewing For Baby - A List of FREE Tutorials

Seeing as I have baby-on-the-brain, with this seemingly all-elbows kid rolling around inside me, I thought I'd make a list of some of the free sewing tutorials and patterns I've bookmarked. Maybe I will manage to actually make a few things in the near future!

• First up, there are tutorials for receiving blankets and burpers at You Can Make This!
• At Just Because I am Me, you can find instructions for a carseat canopy and chenille burp cloths.
• This cute Grow Up Together dress can be found at Bumblebee Grace.
• Need a quick and easy bib? Check out this one at While They Sleep.
• Cicada Daydream has a bib tutorial that is more appropriate for toddlers.
• How about a cute growth chart for a baby shower gift? Kristen @ Unraveled has one!
• Check out the instructions for an easy peasy swaddle sheet (and another burp cloth) at My Longest Year.
• Don't forget the changing pad! There is also a bath mitt pattern at Sew Take a Hike.
• I found a really cute hat at Whip Up. I think it would be even cuter if you tied the corners in knots!
• I can't forget this pattern for baby shoes! You can see my own attempt at them here. I will definitely be making some for this little guy!
• Heather Bailey also has a pattern for cute baby shoes.
• Made By Rae has several free baby tutorials down the left side: newborn pants, tights, a dress, a sun suit, and a bib.
• If there is a preemie in your life, or you like to donate items to the hospital, you might be interested in the preemie swaddler pattern from Ellie Inspired.
• Make It and Love It has WAAAAAY too many tutorials to list! From clothing to toys to recovering your high chair or car seat, you can find so much there to keep you busy!
• Here's a good post about sewing cloth diapers, along with some links to free patterns from Sew, Mama, Sew!
• Want to make cute diapers with patterned fabric - that don't leak? Try the quick and easy instructions at Uber Domestic.
  
• If you have some laminated cotton or iron-on vinyl in your stash, you might be interested in this toddler bib at Oilcloth Addict.
• One of my internet friends recently linked to this baby gown from Running With Scissors. I love gowns on newborns!
• Jan Andrea has all kinds of links to baby carrier patterns and tutorials, as well as other things that are useful when you have a baby (nursing bras, shirts, and pillows, diaper bags, and even a baby-wearing poncho!).
• Lastly, Fishsticks Designs has a tutorial for newborn bloomers. I think these could be made up for a boy or a girl, as they are not frilly, but are basically shorts.

Have I inspired you to make something for a little one? Let me know! Do you have a favorite baby sewing tutorial that you don't see here? Share it in a comment!


I know this was a lot of links - I like to link to the original blog as well as the post I'm directing you to. That way, if there is an error or a post gets moved, you will hopefully still be able to find it through the home page. Also, I like to give credit where bloggy credit is due!

Weekly Deals 4-17: Part One

This is only part one, because there were some deals I need to go back for. After I got to CVS, I realized the new cinnamon Cheerios are included in this week's sale, for which I have a bunch of 75¢ coupons. With the sale and coupons, they will be only $1.25 a box! I also intend to get a few more of the Physician's Formula products (with the $5 coupon I have, it makes the ORGANIC mascara 88¢ each after the sale!), and I'd forgotten my Arizona Tea coupons. This is the reason I really should bring my coupon binder with me every time - something I already know, but have gotten lazy about!

First up, CVS:

From CVS, I ended up with: 4 boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios, 2 boxes of Chocolate Cheerios, a gallon of whole and a gallon of 2% milk, a bag of paper Easter grass, 4 bottles of kids gummy vitamins, a bottle of Osteo Bi-Flex (for my momma!**), a can of Edge shave gel, 2 tubes of Aquafresh kids toothpaste (for my Operation Christmas Child stash), a Schick Intuition razor, a package of Ivory soap (also for Operation Christmas Child), 2 Reach flosses, and 2 Physician's Formula organic mascaras.

I paid $35.08 for $127.87 worth of goods - 73% savings.

Next up, my bigger challenge, Walgreens:

From Walgreens, I brought home: 2 packages of King's Hawaiian rolls, 2 tubes of Luster toothpaste, 3 rolls of Scotch tape, 2 packages of Yes To Cucumbers towelettes, 1 Betty Crocker cake mix, 1 tub of Betty Crocker frosting, 2 Reach flosses, a tube of Colgate, 1 Colgate toothbrush, 2 Yes To Carrots lip balms, and 5 Wet 'N' Wild nail polishes (fillers). There were several more things I wanted, but I was working with the cash in my wallet and ran out. I'm sure someone else would have been able to get a lot more with the cash and coupons I had, but I did the best I could! I'm hoping that when I go back, they'll have more of the rolls - we like these a lot, and I freeze them when I find them for a good price. I also forgot a few coupons, again - ANOTHER reminder to bring my binder!!!

I ended up spending $14.98 for $67.13 worth of merchandise - 78% savings. Much better than last week!

**I mentioned last week that I got the Flex-A-Min for my mom, and I picked up Osteo Bi-Flex for her this week. My mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis, and takes joint support products to help with it. She does not have a spending plan with her health insurance, and since these products are over-the-counter, they are not covered. If I can help her out by getting these products (which normally run about $20 a bottle) for $5 or less, I'm happy to do it! My parents have helped us out plenty, and a little here and there is not going to hurt us at all. There are often products like this that can be gotten for very little compared to the regular price, or even the generic - when you use a coupon combined with a sale. Do you know someone who would benefit from the gift of herbal supplements or over-the-counter medicines? I encourage you to go ahead and help them out! Whether or not you want them to reimburse you - that's up to you to work out, but I bet you could find a few dollars in your budget for it!

Do you play the "drugstore game"? I get all my deals from two places: Hip2Save (she has a great customizable, printable list), and MoneySavingMom. These two gals save me a LOT of time! You can go there to check out this week's deals. I hope I inspired you to save some money!

Christmas Cards by Shutterfly

I confess, I haven't sent out Christmas cards in years. So long, in fact, that I can't remember when the last time was! I don't even give them out in person! Don't get me wrong - I always mean to. I just never get around to it! With a little one that seems to change every day, I find my desire to send some cards out this year to be even stronger! I was excited when I saw an advertisement for Shutterfly's blogger special - in exchange for writing a post about their photo cards, I will receive 50 cards free! I don't know about you, but this fits my budget perfectly!

As I have never ordered from Shutterfly before, I headed over to check out their selection of Christmas cards. I've seen numerous deals for photo cards for free or next-to-nothing, but I never really found any I wanted to pay the shipping for. That changed when I got to Shutterfly's site! They have page after page of card designs! There are options available for one photo, or if a photo collage is your taste, they have quite a few of those, too! It's so easy to customize your design choice with your family's names, and then drop your photo into your card. The cards are printed on cardstock, which appeals to me, as I've received bent photo cards from friends and family more than once. If you prefer photo paper, they have that option, too.


After making six different cards, this is the one I finally chose (except it will have our names and my own children on it, of course!). I liked so many of the designs, it was hard to only pick one! Shutterfly also has many other items you can customize with your photos - what grandparent wouldn't like a mug or calendar featuring their precious grandchildren?

If you haven't gotten started on your cards yet, you can click here and use the code ZP9A-4N4K-TWWZ-EUC5C5 to get 10 cards free - just pay shipping and handling, which starts at $5.99. Hurry, because this code only lasts through December 8th!


* I am receiving photo cards from Snapfish in exchange for writing this post; however, the opinions expressed are all mine.

Simply... Go-Gurt Review and Giveaway

THE REVIEW:
As a member of MyBlogSpark, I was recently given the opportunity to try new Simply... Go-Gurt from Yoplait. It comes in a convenient tube, like their regular Go-Gurt, however, it does not contain any high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or flavors. It comes in strawberry or mixed berry. Wonder Boy and Super Girl devoured them without a second thought, just like I knew they would.

I have to be honest and say that I had already bought Simply... Go-Gurt while at my parents' house. The kids love to have yogurt tubes as a frozen treat, especially when the weather is warm. I just pop the whole box in the freezer. I like that the kids like them, because they are at least getting a little calcium from them. However, I don't like the sugar and all the artificial stuff that's also in them. In the future, I would pay a little extra for the Simply... Go-Gurt tubes, rather than the ones I buy at Aldi. Hopefully I'd be able to find coupons to make up the difference! I also hope they come out with a couple more flavors (hint, hint!).

THE GIVEAWAY:
The first 30 readers who click on the Simply... Go-Gurt widget to the right will be able to print a coupon for their own FREE box! If you're not one of the first 30, you can still print a coupon for $1.10 off. Also...

How would you like to win a "Simplify Your Life" prize pack from MyBlogSpark and Yoplait? It contains a coupon for a free box of Simply... Go-Gurt, a cute mini Etch-a-Sketch, a pretty weekly planner portfolio filled with different note pads, and a seat-back organizer for your vehicle. I have one prize pack to give to a reader of this blog!

In order to enter this giveaway, you need to be a follower through Google Friend or subscribe through a blog reader. Make sure you post a comment letting me know! This is required before earning extra entries.

You may have up to 4 extra entries for doing any of these things (one entry per item):
* Post your child's (or your) favorite healthy snack.
* Post about this giveaway on your blog.
* Tweet about this giveaway.
* Comment about this giveaway on Facebook.

Please make sure to post a separate comment for each entry. The winner will be chosen at random, and the entry period ends at 6 pm CST on Friday, May 7th, 2010. Winner to be announced Saturday, May 8th. Open to US addresses only.

Disclaimer: I received my own "Simplify Your Life" prize pack from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark in return for trying new Simply... Go-Gurt. The giveaway prize pack is also being furnished by Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. Nutritional information is from Yoplait. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Whew!

Made-By-Me Monday

Welcome to the first installment of "Made-By-Me" Monday, wherein I post pictures of things I have made in the previous week. This will serve two purposes: to allow me to brag about my crafting accomplishments, and to encourage you to post photos of your own! Because, if you are anything like me, while my dear daughter oohs and aahs over my endeavors, my husband and son are less enthusiastic in their appreciation, and I don't want to bore them with the details. So, let's begin, shall we?

First up, we have a pair of baby slippers. I used the FREE pattern at Stardust Shoes, along with a second-hand flannel receiving blanket and a remnant of fleece. I didn't get them made until Little Miss was already 6 months old, which meant that they were exactly the right length and they no longer fit her now. I have enlarged the pattern and am going to attempt a larger pair. And, you caught me - I didn't make these this week. But, I wanted to share them, anyhow!


Next is a tote bag. I tend to carry an all-in-one purse/diaper bag combo, but that leaves me in a bind on Sunday mornings when I leave Little Miss in the church nursery. I made this bag, and have a smaller matching zip-up bag cut out to use as a clutch which I can then pull out and carry with me while leaving the larger bag with the baby. I used two fabrics I bought on clearance at JoAnn (while they were on an additional 50% off sale), a bit of brown microsuede, and Simplicity pattern #2551, which I purchased for 99 cents on sale. I made view "A".


Here is a look at the inside. There are 4 pockets inside, 2 outside.


I'm fairly pleased with how the bag turned out, though I could have sewn the curves on the front and back panels better - I made the mistake of stretching them straight as I was sewing, so they don't lay quite right. But, it is functional, and it looks decent, by my own standards.

What have you made lately? If you have pictures of a recent crafting project, post a link in the comments (next week, I hope to have a Mr. Linky set up). Share your creative side!

Building on Family Walks

I wanted to share some of the ways we have built on our family walks to turn them into learning experiences as well as fun family outings. I mentioned in my last post that we had been out of town, visiting family. Our visits tend to last a week or more, and I have found that schoolwork is hit-and-miss when I bring it. This time I tried to take advantage of the weather and some near-by attractions.

On this visit, we found Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island, Illinois. They have a very small (free!) museum on the grounds, which depicts summer and winter homes of the Sauk and Meskwaki (Sac & Fox) Nations. There was also a photo display and video about the park's use as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Depression. On the ride to the park, I read the children some history of the park from the time in between these two periods (which I found through the park's website), when the land was an amusement park. They found the pictures of the rides interesting, especially that of the first log ride.


After browsing the museum and watching the video on the CCC, we headed back outside and enjoyed a walk along a trail to an observation point on the Rock River. We took a lot of pictures of the flowers along the way, and the kids really got a kick out of the rock formations. Thanks to a flier provided by the museum clerk, we were able to identify all but one of the flowers we photographed. I later went over some biographical information on Black Hawk (also from the park's website). Even though the museum features a bust of him, and the park is on the site of his ancestral home, I found there was really little information there about him, specifically.


A couple of days later, inspired in part by a bear claw collar at the museum, my dad helped the kids make necklaces featuring faux bear claws and glass and wooden beads. He also had a few beaver teeth, which were a reminder of a previous excursion to check out a local beaver dam. We discussed materials the Native Americans might have used to make amulets and medicine bags, and the symbolism behind the different items. Later that afternoon, we went on a walk on a local trail and were able to spot flowers we'd identified from our walk at the state park.

Next up in this train of thought: Journals of our walks! I just haven't decided if I want them to be solely of our nature walks, or if I want to include other educational trips we make. Hmmm...

A Handful of Blogs

I have waaaaaay too many blogs on my Google Reader. Especially since I haven't been using the thing for a while! However, I wanted to share a few that I really enjoy.

1. Pioneer Woman. Ree rocks! I want to be her when I grow up, just a little bit. Her posts are always entertaining, and often educational. She covers a variety of subjects - homeschooling, photography, cooking, life on a ranch in general.

2. Hip2Save. Collin is a young, enthusiastic mother of 3 and military wife. She really enjoys the thrill of saving, and always has something awesome to share! She has links to freebies, sales, coupons, etc., and posts weekly coupon/sales match-ups for CVS, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid. Thanks to her blog, I've gotten hundreds of dollars worth of products for free over the past year.

3. Money Saving Mom. Crystal's blog has some things in common with Hip2Save, but she also has posts showing how to cook from your pantry and from scratch. She is a Christian, and I enjoy that she seems to be more about helping her family save money and stretching their budget, rather than focusing on what she can get for free or little money. She is sort of a combination of Pioneer Woman and Hip2Save, with posts about freebies and such, but also about cooking and homeschooling preschoolers.

4. Wardrobe Refashion. This is a blog written by a group of people who have pledged to not buy any new clothing for a certain amount of time, but rather to remake (refashion) second-hand clothing and other pieces of fabric into new clothing for themselves. One member was making a silk wedding dress out of curtains she found at a thrift store! I find this blog very inspirational, and hope to take the pledge in the future.

5. Cake Wrecks. This is solely a guilty pleasure! Jen's readers submit photos of "professionally" decorated cakes-gone-wrong, to which she adds humorous captions. I have often laughed until I cried at some of these creations! Others just leave me wondering, "What on Earth were they thinking?!?!?" This blog is always good for a pick-me-up!

Busy Mom's Bible - FREE, if there are any left!

Go over here to register for a free copy of the new Busy Mom's Bible in NIV. I got my copy Saturday. I have to say that I do prefer a study Bible, but this is good if you want something with devotions included. There are several different ways to utilize the ones in this Bible - one minute, five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. It is slim, with a cute pink/hot pink faux leather cover. It is tempting to keep it, but I am going to be giving away my copy in another post. Keep watch!

Free Subscription to Living The Country Life magazine

Head over here and snag a free 3 year subscription to Living The Country Life magazine. I have received 3 issues so far, and this magazine is packed full of useful info for those who live on farms of any size, just live in the country, or simply wish to!

**Note: At the bottom of the form it says "Yes! I'd like to receive news and special offers from your family of publications via email.", and that this is required. They are published by the Better Homes & Gardens family - just so you don't wonder where on earth this magazine is coming from!

Mail Call!

Yesterday was a pretty good mail day, I think! In addition to couponing, I have been submitting a lot of requests for free samples. They definitely come in handy when traveling. They also often include COUPONS which may not be found elsewhere. Yesterday, all the mail was for ME!, except a piece of junk mail for Mr. Man. Here's what I got:

• Samples of new Aveeno Nourish shampoo and conditioner from CVS (included a $1 coupon)
• Samples of Aveeno Nourish shampoo and conditioner from Walmart (also included a $1 coupon)
• A packet of tomato seeds and a $1 off 5 coupon from Campbells
  
• Another $15 off $50 coupon from Office Max
• My MaxPerks card from Office Max (finally!)
• Summer Savings coupon book from ConAgra foods (over $10 in coupons and one for a free bottle of ketchup)
• A Green Tea Tropical tea bag and $.75 coupon from Mighty Leaf Tea

A few other things I've received in the past few weeks have been: a coupon for a free One Touch Ultra Mini glucose meter, a blackberry sage tea bag from Republic of Tea, Playtex Sport tampons, Kotex overnight pads, Gain laundry soap, Quaker Quakes cheddar rice cakes, Nivea Touch of Happiness body wash, Dove Go Fresh deodorant, John Freida Root Awakenings shampoo and conditioner, Better Than Ears dog treats, and the Huggies Pure and Natural diapers I mentioned before. All but a few of those things included coupons with the sample. Maybe it's a bit sad to admit, but signing up for these goodies has made checking the mail fun again!

Free Sample of Sunbutter!

This sample excites me! I have tried Sunbutter before - it came in a snack pack I bought onboard an Amtrak train. It was AWESOME! It's made from sunflower seeds. You can try it now, too - just go here and fill out the form. At the bottom, where it asks for a code, enter this: 0428. Let me know if you like it as much as I do!

Free sample of organic honey

If you signed up for the free subscription to KIWI magazine (see my last post), you can request a free sample of organic raw honey or organic amber honey from Wholesome Sweeteners. Simply email them at info@organicsugars.biz, and be sure to put "KIWI" in the subject line.

(Thanks, MoneySavingMom!)

Free Subscription to KIWI magazine

Get a free one year subscription to KIWI magazine here. I've bought this magazine before, and it's full of articles about natural and organic living with children. There are also suggested activities to do with your children. The issue I bought had yummy homemade ice cream recipes in it. Sign up for the free subscription, and they will email you a link to printable Earth's Best organic baby foods, and they will also mail some to you.

(Thanks, MoneySavingMom!)

Free Huggies Pure & Natural diapers

Huggies has a new diaper line out - Pure & Natural. They are made with organic cotton. You can get two separate free samples here and here. There are 3 diapers in each sample, in addition to a free plastic zip lock storage bag (good for stashing in a diaper bag) and a $3/1 coupon. You can select from 3 sizes: Newborn, 1, or 2. If you want to do more natural disposable diapers for your baby, but can't afford the more expensive ones, this may be a good alternative for you.

There is also a $3/1 coupon for these diapers that you can print out here.


(Thanks, MoneySavingMom and Hip2Save!)

Free BabyGanics Sample!

You can get a free 2 oz spray bottle of BabyGanics The Grime Fighter all-purpose cleaner by clicking here. This would be perfect to tuck into a diaper bag or baby gift!

(Thanks, Hip2Save!)